From an article on AVWEB:
"Influential libertarian think tank the Reason Foundation has written an open letter to the incoming leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency to make air traffic control a "user-funded utility." "
More here: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/think-tank-urges-doge-to-make-atc-user-funded/
Inexplicably, what AVWEB failed to say in their article is: The FAA (to include ATC operations and equipment) receives the vast majority of its funding from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund (AATF). These funds come from excise taxes on plane tickets and air freight as well as taxes on aviation fuel. Generally, the AATF pays 80+% of the FAA budget (for ATC services, navaids, airport improvements, etc). In other words, ATC services (and a lot more) are already user funded.
AATF fact sheet
While it is certain that the current ATC system in the US could be considerably improved, it is incorrect to suggest the present system isn't user funded.
"Influential libertarian think tank the Reason Foundation has written an open letter to the incoming leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency to make air traffic control a "user-funded utility." "
More here: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/think-tank-urges-doge-to-make-atc-user-funded/
Inexplicably, what AVWEB failed to say in their article is: The FAA (to include ATC operations and equipment) receives the vast majority of its funding from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund (AATF). These funds come from excise taxes on plane tickets and air freight as well as taxes on aviation fuel. Generally, the AATF pays 80+% of the FAA budget (for ATC services, navaids, airport improvements, etc). In other words, ATC services (and a lot more) are already user funded.
AATF fact sheet
While it is certain that the current ATC system in the US could be considerably improved, it is incorrect to suggest the present system isn't user funded.
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